The incident received attention after one of the student’s parent emailed the Long Branch news site The Link News, which reported it on its Facebook page. The students informed their teacher of the incident, who then notified the school’s principal.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Salvatore told The Link News that an ongoing investigation is taking place.

“After the reports and the review of our security cameras revealed the possibility that the incident took place, parents were notified, as well as, the proper authorities,” he said. “The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Long Branch Police Department and Institutional Abuse/DYFS are conducting an investigation regarding the allegations.”

A spokesperson for the school on Monday described the incident as a “practical joke gone bad.”

About the Author

Andrew Jones is a staff writer/reporter for Raw Story. Besides covering politics, he is also a freelance sports journalist, as well as a slam poetry and music artist. You can follow him on Twitter @sluggahjells.